‘The X Factor’ audience booed some of the acts put through to judges’ houses.
The crowd watching the boot camp stage of the auditions – where the panel selects the final six from their category they are taking through to the next stage – grew angry and frustrated when Louis Walsh and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini swapped out talented singers for novelty acts.
Show compere and warm-up man Ian Royce was forced to intervene and warn the crowd about their "vile" behaviour, telling them to "give a chance" to hopefuls after one girl was booed before she even finished performing.
And when Louis gave comedy duo Blonde Electric a place on his Groups shortlist, he was forced to intervene again.
He said: "This act don’t deserve that booing, this is there opportunity so you give them the same respect you’ve given every other act tonight. This is their big moment make sure you give it to them!"
Some audience members speculated the inclusion of the novelty acts were a fix after Louis swapped Blonde Electric back in after speaking to producers, and Cheryl did the same with one of her contestants in the Girls category.
A crowd member said: "When Cheryl got rid of the girl, producers could be seen shaking their heads at the decision and ran up to her. Later she was brought back. As soon as Cheryl announced the girl was out, the booing started."
However, a show source insisted the two judges were discussing their desire to swap acts.
The source told The Sun newspaper: "The judges can change their minds as much as they want.
"Producers talk to the judges all the time but it doesn’t mean they are telling them what to do. They are simply there to advise them. The judges don’t wear earpieces so producers talk to them at the desk throughout filming.
"In this instance the judges spoke to the production team about the fact that they wanted to change their minds."
A spokesperson for the programme denied any suggestion of a fix.
They said: "As part of the Six-Chair Challenge judges have to decide who goes through to the judges’ houses.
"Until all the acts in their category have sung and the judge has declared that they have chosen their final six, each judge is able to change their minds and bring back anyone they have removed from a seat at any stage."
X Factor acts booed
